Balassi Stanza

This is a Balassi Stanza.  There are no limits on number  of stanzas. (9 line multiples).

The Rhyme Scheme is: bbaccadda

Syllable count is: 6/6/7/6/6/7/6/6/7

Pasted from <http://allpoetry.com/poem/10245859-Weekend_in_New_England_-by-C._D._Southards-explicit-noguest>

The Balassi Stanza is attributed to Bálint Balassi (1554-1594) who is probably Hungary’s best known Renaissance poet. His work included poetry about his battles with the Turks and his love poems to a woman he called Julia. His poetry was known for the richness of its forms and was a blend of Turkish, Polish and Hungarian folk poetry.

It is believed that this stanza form was used by the Hungarian poet Balint Balassi, who rationalised it from a three line form consisting of 19 syllables per line, and broke it up by the use of internal rhymes.

This evolved into a rhyme scheme as follows

Pasted from <http://www.thepoetsgarret.com/2007Challenge/eyt.html>

Fun to Watch   (Balassi Stanza)

Tournament basketball

is winter’s gift from fall.

I went just to watch the best.

A lady sat in front;

her stature made me want

to miss plays and watch her chest.

Her skin was silky smooth

as any point guard’s move,

which I missed, it’s now confessed.

  © Lawrencealot – January 11, 2013

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